title: Etonogestrel implant in adolescents: evaluation of clinical aspects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective noncomparative observational study evaluated the clinical aspects of adolescents who received an etonogestrel implant within 6 months of delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised 44 adolescents managed at the Family Planning Sector of São Paulo Federal University. The implant was inserted, on average, 102 days after delivery and patients were followed during 1 year. At each monthly visit to the clinic, the participants were weighed, had their blood pressure measured and were asked to report on symptoms experienced during the last 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately one-third (38.6%) of the participants reported symptoms, mostly headaches. There were no complaints of dysmenorrhea, breast tenderness or lower leg edema throughout the 12 months of follow-up. Mean body weight dropped 1.2 kg on average, from 56.4 kg at implant insertion to 55.3 kg at the end of the 1-year period. Body mass index also decreased 0.5 kg/m(2) on average, although these changes did not reach statistical significance. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure remained unchanged throughout the study period. There were no pregnancies and none of the participants discontinued the method (528 women-months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the etonogestrel implant is a safe and effective contraceptive method that is well accepted by adolescents after a pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Clinic, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo ZIP 04040032, Brazil. c.guazzelli@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Cristina A F
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Guazzelli
authors.forename: Flaviano Teixeira
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Maria Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Torloni
authors.forename: Fabio Fernando
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: de Araujo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004343:Drug Implants; C044815:etonogestrel; D017135:Desogestrel